election of the most popular hurler or footballer as the new Battalion O.C. while, what we really needed would be a well-trained, resourceful fighting man and not a Gaelic sports hero. Subsequently, I suggested that a Committee of Senior Officers should carefully screen promising candidates and then appoint the best man. The C.S. insisted that we had to obey the constitutional laws, so, my suggestion was not accepted. On the first ballot I was elected unanimously but I declined to accept the position. Next, Sean Mitchell was elected and he too refused to accept. Finally, the vote went to an absentee and when he also refused, the Battalion was split up with two of its Companies being added to the 1st Batt., Cork 1. drawn from Glasheen, Bishopstown, and Washington Street, Mardyke, etc. The other two Companies that came from Barrack Street, Bandon Road, Greenmount, Gillabbey, The Lough, Pouladuff and Togher were added to 2nd Batt. Cork 1. Our Company became G. Company, 2nd Batt. The year 1918 was an election year with general interest widespread to elect Sinn Fein candidates. Prior to all this, at the Sinn Fein Convention in 1917, we were asked NOT to send a civilian as our delegate from the Club but rather send an officer of the Volunteers so that our people would be sure of who would hold control in future policies. So, our Club sent forth Josh Richardson, who was a Company Captain at that time. The interest in the local elections, following the successfully contested Dáil Eireann elections, created a rather difficult situation and several of us got together and decided not to allow any active Volunteer Officer to become a candidate. This was discussed various times. On one occasion, I remember pointing out to Thomas McCurtain and Terry McSwiney in conversation, that matters would be alright until such time that an ARREST Would be made (a frequent happening in those days) and then I added: "If any of your are arrested, numerous and very vitally important jobs will be lost to us and, with it, much of the control we have fought for so very desperately." My fears were proved right only too soon. Thomas McCurtain, Lord Mayor of Cork at that time, as also O.C. of Cork 1, Brigade and very active in Sinn Fein and other nationalistic circles (as well as ex-officio of almost all [8] the Committees in the Corporation and thus had to attend numerous meetings and receive all types of delegations) was murdered by the British and this great man's potential was lost to the movement and to all of us. Meanwhile, we had in our ranks many men, somewhat older and well versed in Corporation and County Council work, who were perfect for the jobs we planned to fill and to control. Consequently, and while nominating very few IRA officers or active soldiers, we were fortunate enough to come up with and nominate a sterling group of our members to carry on the work in the Corporation, the County Council, and the Urban District Councils. Later, in 1921 and 1922 many of these men were arrested and interned in Ballykinlar Camp, including men such as Stephen Riordan (famous All-Ireland Hurler from the Blackrock section of Cork) Charlie Coughlan, Maurice Walsh Simon Daly (all belonging to the 2nd Batt.) with others, such as Tadgy Barry, from 1st Batt., Cork 1 Brigade. Some others like Jerry Kelleher and Jack Fitzpatrick managed to escape. During 1919, some of our best workers: Jack and Tom (Dodger) Aherne, who were carpenters, Bob Fitzgerald a pattern maker, John Horgan an electrician, and so many others, all pooled their skills and knowledge and proceeded to develop and assemble the various parts of a Mills Bomb. Later those above named were ably assisted by Jimmy Mehigan and his brother of the Lough Road and by my brother Willie Neenan, all three of them being moulders by profession. Great strides were made, work proceeded rapidly, and patterns were successfully constructed to complete the lower section of the bomb. It gave me great satisfaction that all this work came mainly from the members of G Company, 2nd Batt., Cork 1. Brigade. Unfortunately, the countersinking of the upper part of the bomb could not be mastered by our lads so, I was sent to Dublin where I was put in touch with Sean 0'Tuama, Cork, who in turn brought me to Croke Park on a Sunday where I saw Mick Collins, Dick Mulcahy, Liam Tobin (whom I knew), and Tom Cullen then Quartermaster of G.H.Q. While there, Dick Mulcahy came over to me and, as in a manner of chastisement, told me that "I had defied G.H.Q. in the election of the officers for 3rd. Battalion." No doubt, I was rather startled and even hurt by this stern reprimand, still, I managed to keep my temper and just replied quietly that I was sure time would prove me correct - and, as a matter of fact, it DID. The following day Sean 0'Tuama introduced me to a prominent Engineering [9] Officer, by the name of Michael Lynch, to whom I then proceeded to tell about the problems we had
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